It took three years of tracking the feline to gather the footage, officials said.

“Studying these elusive cats anywhere is extremely difficult, but following the only known individual in the U.S. is especially challenging,” Chris Bugbee, a biologist with Conservation CATalyst, said in a news release.

Conservation CATalyst and the Center for Biological Diversity released new video today of the only known wild jaguar...

Biologists said the video comes at a critical point in efforts toward the cat's conservation. Experts worry about a possible impending land conflict as a Canadian mining company pushes for development near El Jefe’s stomping grounds.

“Clearly, the Santa Rita Mountains are a vital part of this cat’s home range,” Bugbee said. “The Santa Rita Mountains are critically important to jaguar recovery in this country, and they must be protected.”